Strike A Power Pose! - Talk About Talk

Let’s “Power Pose”

Let’s talk BODY LANGUAGE. Picture someone powerful and confident taking the stage. Maybe it’s a politician or business leader. Maybe it’s an Olympic athlete or a celebrity.

What is it about them that conveys a sense of power and confidence? Is it the words they are speaking, or is it their BODY LANGUAGE?

Image: Unsplash Miguel Bruna

For some people, confidence is something that comes naturally. But for most of us, it’s something that takes practice.

Confidence may be a state of mind,
but there are things we can do with our BODIES
to help set our minds up for success.

In the most recent Talk About Talk episode, I talk about the significant effect BODY LANGUAGE has on communication, and explored two important reasons why we should all focus on our body language:

1️⃣ Body language impacts HOW YOU ARE PERCEIVED
2️⃣ Body language impacts HOW YOU FEEL

Go ahead, STRIKE A POWER POSE!

Say you’re preparing for a job interview, or you’re about to give a presentation. Are you feeling a little nervous or uncertain?

But what if there was a simple thing you could do to help shake off those nerves and boost your confidence?

Ladies and gentlemen,
allow me to introduce you to the
POWER POSE!

WHAT’s a Power Pose?

You may have seen social psychologist Amy Cuddy’s viral TED Talk on body language. (With 64 million views, it’s one of the most watched TED Talks ever!)

Dr. Cuddy argued that body language not only affects how we are perceived by others, but also shapes the way we perceive ourselves, and suggested that POWER POSING can help us build confidence and lead to successful outcomes.

Go ahead and give it a try!

Strike an EXPANSIVE power pose:

stand up straight
hands on hips
chest elevated
chin up
BE BIG!

Do you feel more powerful?

Image by Choreograph from Getty Images Pro

Channel your inner SUPERHERO

WHY is a power pose effective?

The simplest explanation is that our 🧠 BRAINS believe our 🧍‍♂️BODIES.

Our bodies and brains are in constant communication, whether we’re aware of it or not.
When we slow our breathing, our brains interpret this signal as, “Everything must be ok.”
When we strike a powerful pose, our brains receive a message of confidence. “Hey, I AM powerful!”

In the years since Amy Cuddy’s famous TED Talk, there has been some debate within the scientific community about the validity of her claims.

For me,
there’s no denying that whenever I strike a power pose,
I feel more powerful.